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Topic: Kirschen chisels are also available with an unpolished blade. (Read 3689 times)

I need to replace 2 chisels so I was reading some reviews and Kirschen chisels seem to have a good reputation. The consensus is that they use a good quality steel that holds an edge quite well. I looked on the Kirschen website and saw the 1003 model with a red plastic impact resistant handle (I like a smaller handle). I also saw that that the blade is polished on all their chisels, or so I thought. I contacted Kirschen-shop.de to ask them if Kirschen chisels are also available with an unpolished blade and they are. Good times I also asked them about the steel and was told it's a high carbon tool steel. More good times

So for anyone interested, Kirschen chisels are also available with an unpolished blade.

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The polishing also slightly rounds over the corners on the back of the chisel. This makes them quite useless for very fine work like dovetails or a tight fitting tenon and mortice joint. I also use the back of a chisel with a shearing motion to trim the excess of wood veneer edging (the stuff you apply with an iron) and you need a sharp corner for that.

Other than that I just dislike polished chisels. It makes them look cheap and nasty like something out of the $1 bin.

Polishing rounds the edges, making it extra work to flatten the chisel backs.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Yessss. Sadly I have learned this the hard way with a still nice set of Chisels I bought from Traditional Woodworker here in the US. Might be a rebranded Two Cherries set... . They hold a decent edge , but the backs are various stages of fun due to that polished body....

When I started my search for new chisels, I mistakenly ordered the polished Two Cherries (Kirshen) set in a leather roll, and regretted it the moment I opened the box. The set came from the Amazon Warehouse with a description of damaged retail packaging (previously returned item).

Besides the polished and rounded edges, I noticed a considerable amount of "chatter" on the edges, in the upper steel portion of the blades, and sent them back immediately for poor "fit and finish".

I have since decided to spend a little more and get a few nicer chisels, passing on the idea of getting a complete set.

I have a set of polished two cherries butt chisels, nothing sloppy about them, I don't see rounded corners either. Backs don't have issues either. Maybe they have gotten things sorted? One advantage of the polished chisel is it won't rust as easily..

Excellent point. That's why carving chisels are usually polished, the blades are touched by hands a lot.

I also have them. Just checked them with engineering square. They are as flat and square as any good chisels, although the edges don't feel as sharp to touch. There might be a 0.02 mm radius on the edges, nothing to affect mortise cutting ability. But I admit, I prefer ground look.

Two Cherries and Kirschen are one and the same thing. "Kirschen" is German for "cherries" and the company logo is the two cherries.

I believe that Hirsch chisels come out of the same factory.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Two Cherries, Kirschen, and the Hirsch chisels are all manufactured by Wilh. Schmitt & Comp. GmbH & Co. KG. of Remscheid. I suspect Bracht chisels were or are manufactured by Wilh. Schmitt as well, and some Ulmia chisels look like they may have been manufactured by Wilh. Schmitt also, although I think the current Ulmia chisels are more likely manufactured by MHG.